our dozen beautiful feet

I have tried all kinds of different things when it comes to weekly planning.  Each year, I make my own planning sheets, tailored to what we're doing that year.  I have tried programs like Olly, Google calendar, using my iCalendar, and more. I usually settle on a homemade planning sheet I print each week and hand write the assignments on.  But it was getting tedious for me this past year, AND, there was little record at the end of the year of what we'd actually done.  Keeping grades has not been a real priority for me yet, but in the coming years, it will be.  So that's been in the back of mind as well. Sometime in the fall, I read about Lessontrek. I've always avoided those monthly subscription kind of planners where everything is online, but they were offering a four month free trial, so I figured, why not? I can get a good feel for it in four months, and for nothing! I've gotta tell you, I love this planner.  It makes it so easy to create classes and...

I always look forward to this post, because I love planning!  I have been encouraged this year in finding that there are others out there too who really get into the planning and curriculum research, making lists and spreadsheets. I really love this part of homeschooling, and it's fun to share all the fruits of my labor and what eventually emerges as my plan for the coming year. I'm not changing too much this time around.  Next year will be my sixth year schooling at home, and each year I think I'm hitting my stride and refining my visions and getting closer to making no changes. : )  I imagine I'll always be re-evaluating and finding what works for each child as they learn and grow, so even my broad strokes plan will probably never be in concrete until it's done! I'm excited to share my plan for next year with you, and in the next two posts, I'll share how I plan for each day/week, and then, about my long-range planning. So without further adieu, her...

Goodness.  This year just really got away from me! I always have the best intentions to keep my blog active and going. And every year, I start strong, finish invisibly! But, I hopefully will always get around to my curriculum reviews and choices for the coming year, because I know it is helpful for me, and hopefully, for some of you as well! So, from my blog post last summer, these were my choices for this past school year: In Language: -McGuffey Readers - Beginning Reasoning and Reading - New American Cursive - All About Spelling Levels 4 and 5 - Classical Writing Aesop A/B In Logic: - Math-U-See Gamma and Delta - Song School Latin 2 (this is arguable both language and logic) -Yamaha Piano lessons In Content: -Daily Bible readings with Westminster Catechism songs and Training Hearts, Teaching Minds by Starr Mead - Tapestry of Grace Year 4 Upper Grammar! - Harmony Fine Arts Year 4: Modern Times - Apologia Chemistry and Physics *NONE of these affiliate links...